Parkinson's patients dance to live music on P.E.I.

A new exercise class for people with Parkinson's disease is using live music and dance to help motivate people, and organizers say it's working.

People with the brain disorder can find it difficult to move and have stiff muscles, and exercise can help them control symptoms.

"When they come they really enjoy it," said class leader Florence Larkin of her class called Movers and Shakers Dance Group.

Larkin said she's no dancer, but she wanted to help the group by leading the class, because she has a sister, brother and a cousin with the disease.

"It's kind of fun to move to music," said her sister Maureen Larkin, who is on the executive of the Parkinson's support group. "It's fun to be with the other people. I do exercises every day, but by yourself, it's not as much fun."

A pianist plays tunes on request and the mood is light as participants follow Florence Larkin's moves.

"There's lots of research being done now around dancing movements for Parkinson's and it just makes a big difference in some peoples lives," said Larkin.

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Dancers sit in chairs while they exercise, but Larkin says the exercises are dance moves.

"It's based on ballet moves and tap jazz and tap. And what we do is we adapt those ballet moves to address some of the symptoms of Parkinson's," said Larkin.

The local Parkinson's support group has been putting on the class for about a year now, and participants say it is helping them be more mobile.

Movers and Shakers is held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Central Christian Church in Charlottetown.

And although it started as a class for those with Parkinson's, Larkin said anyone with a movement disorder could benefit and is welcome.